He believes that the ongoing Palestinian problem was the only significant factor that allows recruiting extremists into the ranks of radical organizations

Share

1 pages in this article

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, Мay 16 (Itar-Tass) - Russia is trying to resume negotiations on the Arab-Israeli settlement within the framework of the Middle East peace ”quartet”, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

In an interview with the Al Mayadeen TV on Friday, Lavrov said that the Middle East “quartet” comprising Russia, the European Union, the United Nations and the United States, had been inexcusably passive. “It’s practically not working. Its activities have been paralyzed,” the Russian foreign minister said.

Lavrov recalled that the “quartet” members had missed several opportunities to have a meeting. “That worries us. The criticism of the quartet is fair and justified. But we do not want to be undeservedly criticized because Russia is seeking to resume the negotiating process. But conditions are needed for their resumption,” Lavrov emphasized.

Lavrov said that the League of Arab States should be actively involved in the process. The more so that LAS has apparently been too preoccupied with the Syrian affairs. That’s why the Palestinian issue has been relegated to the background.

The Russian foreign minister said that a LAS delegation had recently visited the United States to submit its approaches to the flexible implementation of the Arab peace initiative to the American leadership.

"We hope that the Arab peace initiative will not be subject to revision. This is a very important document that is paving the way to stable and durable peace between the Arabs and the Israelis and to stable Middle East development,” Lavrov said in his interview.

He believes that the ongoing Palestinian problem was the only significant factor that allows recruiting extremists into the ranks of radical organizations.

"Unfortunately, the situation continues. The stalemate that has been going on for years is used for rearing young people in the spirit of irreconcilability to those who are searching for a political solution,” Lavrov said. He added that the spread of extremism and terrorist manifestations beyond the Middle East boundaries was a consequence of the unresolved Palestinian problem.